Mid-Session Legislative Updates

The Colorado Legislature is starting to seriously address issues in health care affordability. We believe many of these measures will make a difference and impact your pocket book.

We encourage you to let your legislators know of your interest, support or health care story.

Along with an update on legislation of interest, tips are listed below to develop your story, find legislators and other interesting facts.

Did you know? Outside of the Denver Metro area 62% of adults experience healthcare affordability issues. In the Denver area over 56% of adults have a similar affordability issue. (from Altarum’s Consumer Healthcare Experience State Survey February 2019) Those issues were primarily around:

High PremiumsAre you uninsured due to high premiums? Did you buy your insurance on the exchange, Connect or in the individual market? Are the premiums ‘too expensive’? Reinsurance, a program created in HB19-1168, will make an impact on the cost of premiums in Colorado’s individual insurance market.

This past week at the House hearing on the Reinsurance bill Jo Hubchik spoke representing the MS Society and the Chronic Care Collaborative in support of the bill. She made the following points:

When the ACA first passed reinsurance was included to provide stability to rates

However, it was not implemented and left some groups, particularly those outside of the metro area subject to large premium increases based on just a few large claims since Insurers recoup losses from previous year

The cost of insurance is already high particularly for those not eligible for tax assistance

Smaller employers and entrepreneurs are having the same struggles in providing health care

The need to lower costs is not limited to premiums. The costs for drugs, and specialists’ visits can be a burden to the family budget

Providing reinsurance protection would help with the premium part of the equation for insurance provided through the exchange

This is the first effort to resolve the rise in premium costs that does not look to the just raise the price to the consumer. Providers will share in the costs of funding the reinsurance dollars

The bill passed out of committee and on to the full House of Representatives. It now needs our support in the Senate.

ACTION: Let your Representative know you support 1168 Reinsurance. Let us know if you are interested in testifying on the bill when it goes to the Senate. If this bill is of interest to you, please email Allie. allie.moore@ccc-co.org

Unexpected Medical Bills

One-third of privately insured Colorado Adults received a medical bill they were not expecting. (from Altarum’s Consumer Healthcare Experience State Survey February 2019).

There are two bills that attempt to address this issue. HB 19-1174 and SB 19-134

ACTION: Share your story and let your legislator know of your experience with an unexpected medical bill. Email Allie if you have a story about an unexpected medical bill for assistance connecting with your legislator, allie.moore@ccc-co.org.

How do I find who my legislator is?Many of us know who our federal congresspeople are, but have never reached out to our state senator and representative. State lawmakers want to hear from you! On the Find my Legislator Page, type in your address and the map will provide you with your state senator and representative.

How do I contact my legislator?Either by phone or email. The find my legislator page provides you with contact information. Be sure to identify yourself as a constituent, lawmakers typically listen closely when people who live in their district raise issues.

How can I read a bill?You can search on the Legislature’s website. There is a button to find a bill. If you know the bill number, make sure you put in 19- before the number.

If I want to testify how do I do that? You don’t have to be in the Denver metro to testify. Many bills allow for remote testimony during a committee hearing, and we can help identify how to testify remotely. Email allie.moore@ccc-co.org for more information.

What are the good elements of a story? And an Ask to a legislator? Read more on our Share Your Story page.